asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is now the average cost per mile for the hire of taxicabs in the London area and outside London, respectively, and in total for a typical journey; and how this compares with the comparative indices or costs for 1 April 1979, 1 April 1978, and 1 April 1977, respectively.

In typical two to three mile journeys in London the present cost—unchanged since December 1977—ranges from 37p to 47p per mile. In areas outside London fare scales vary from district to district, but in a typical area journeys of a similar length would cost from 42p to 60p per mile.The comparable figures for London in April 1977 were from 34p to 45p per mile; outside London at each date the range of figures was slightly higher than that in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow local authorities in the intervening periods before fare applications can be heard, to allow taxi drivers a surcharge of 5p per journey to cover VAT.

Taxi fares and charges outside London are matters principally for local authorities.I have, however, made an order under section 55 of the Finance Act 1974 authorising local authorities such as Carlisle which control taxis by byelaws to amend those byelaws by resolution to permit taxi operators to levy a surcharge of not more than 10p per hiring with a view to off-setting the recent increase in VAT. The order comes into operation on 4 July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by constituency (a) the actual number, (b) the percentage of the electorate, and (c) the percentage of the total votes cast of the postal votes in the general election.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Ross) on 27 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of introducing arrangements to allow people to vote by post and proxy in elections for parish councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of introducing postal votes for (a) rural district council elections and (b) parish council elections.

There are no longer rural district councils in England and Wales. The cost of introducing postal votes for parish council elections is one of the matters I shall be considering in the course of my review of postal voting at the recent elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to bring forward proposals for harder penalties for crimes of rape and assault.

The maximum penalties for rape and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm are already life imprisonment, and there are substantial maximum penalties for other types of assault. The law relating to offences against the person, and sexual offences, including the penalties, is under review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee. I therefore have no plans at present to alter the maximum penalties for rape and assault.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of convictions for motorists in England and Wales in each of the past five years for which figures are available, for driving without third party insurance.

The information requested is published annually in "Offences relating to motor vehicles"—table 4, offence group 9, of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7349.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons charged with murder have subsequently pleaded guilty to section 1 manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in each of the past 10 years; and in how many of these cases the charges involved the killing of children;(2) in how many cases firearms were used in the course of murders where subsequently the person charged pleaded guilty to section 1 manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The references in my hon. Friend's questions to section 1 have been taken to refer to section 2, which places on the defence the obligation to prove that a person charged with murder should not be liable to be convicted of murder but should instead be convicted of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The number of persons indicted for murder and convicted of section 2 manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for offences recorded in the years 1968 to 1977 may be found in table 9.11 of "Criminal Statistics", England and Wales, 1977—Cmnd. 7289. The available information on the number of such cases where the charges involved the killing or the use of firearms is as follows:

PERSONS INDICTED FOR MURDER AND CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER BY REASON OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY
England and Wales	Number of persons
Year offence initially recorded	Charges involving the killing of a person aged under 16	Charges involving killing by shooting
1968	10	1
1969	14	2
1970	18	3
1971	16	5
1972	27	6
1973	20	1
1974	26	9
1975	10	8
1976	21	4
1977	17	5

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entries have been made in registers of allegations of corruption in public life both centrally and regionally set up pursuant to Cmnd. 6524 in Home Office circular 92/197B; and how many regions have established registers pursuant to Cmnd. 6524 in Home Office circular 92/197B.

There have been 200 allegations of corruption in public life reported to the central public sector corruption index since it was established in 1978. Records of allegations of corcuption are not kept on a regional basis, but individual chief officers maintain records which are examined by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary during their annual inspections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to alter the powers of the Charity Commission so that the charitable status of religious bodies and churches cannot be removed by the commission, nor be treated by the commission as if it has been removed unless or until the said religious bodies or churches have been found to have objectives or practices inconsistent with charitable status by a court of law; and if he will make a statement on his policy on the previous early-day motion tabled by the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Wilson).

The criteria for determining the charitable status of churches and religious bodies, and the powers exercisable by the Charity Commissioners in that connection, are among the matters dealt with in the Expenditure Committee's report of 1975 on the Charity Commissioners and their accountability. I have had very little time yet to consider this and other matters raised in that report, and I ask the hon. Member to await the Government's observations on the report which will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the report of the inspector appointed to hear objections to the Boundary Commission proposals for parliamentary constituencies in Northumberland to be published.

This is a matter for the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the emergency resolution which was carried at the annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe calling for a public inquiry into the circumstances and implications of the fire at Woolworth's store in Piccadilly, Manchester; what action he has so far taken; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 25 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the Government's policy on failing to stop and drunken driving in the light of the recent statement and figures issued by the chief constable of Manchester.

The number of motorists who fail to stop after a road accident is a matter for concern and my Department, in consultation with the Department of Transport, is considering how best to deal with the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to respond to the 10th report of the Expenditure Committee, Session 1974–75: Charity Commissioners, and make comments on the report of the Goodman committee on "Charity Law and Voluntary Organisations."

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 27 June and my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley) on 29 June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for allocation of grants from the Voluntary Service Unit; and what amounts and to whom grants were allocated in the last financial year.

The VSU may assist national organisations or projects whose work spans the interests of several Government Departments or which are not the direct responsibility of any single Department. In exceptional cases it may also support innovatory local projects from which lessons of national relevance can be learned. The following grants were agreed in 1978–79:

GRANT APPLICATIONS AGREED BY THE VOLUNTARY SERVICES UNIT: 1978–79
Organisation
Action Resource Centre	13,000
Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers	6,500
After Six Housing Advisory Trust	3,000
Albany Trust	15,000
AVEC	3,000
British Association for Counselling	6,000
British Association of Settlements	21,138
British Council for Aid to Refuges	342,918
British Council of Churches (Community Work Resource Unit)	12,700
Brixton Neighbourhood Community Association	43,605
Child Poverty Action Group	5,000
Community Projects Foundation	437,588
Community Service Volunteers	315,880
Community Transport	32,770
Design Resource Association	5,000
Family Day Centre Projects
1. Aide A Toute Detresse	41,278
2. Cambridge House and Talbot	21,334
3. Camden Family Service Unit	12,472
4. Croydon Gingerbread	12,808
5. Defoe Day Centre	35,897
6. Liverpool Personal Service Society	10,690
7. London Voluntary Service Council	34,214
8. Institute of Community Studies	13,790
Fair Play for Children Campaign	27,000
Gamblers Anonymous	500
Gingerbread	14,000
Girls alone in London Service (GALS)	12,000
Govan Resource Centre	40,968
Great George Project (Liverpool)	20,000
Greater Manchester Council for Voluntary Service	7,700
International Voluntary Service	26,000
International Year of the Child	30,500
London Voluntary Services Council (Community Work Resource Unit)	54,036
Melting Pot Foundation	22,616
Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service	7,700
National Association of Community Relations Councils	2,750
National Association for Asian Youth	27,949
National Association of Youth Clubs (Multi-racial Project)	41,000

Organisation
National Council of Social Service (Community Development Officers)	30,661
National Council of Social Service (Festival Welfare Services)	7,500
National Playing Fields Association	50,000
National Youth Bureau:—
(National Association of Young and People's Counselling and Advisory Services	10,841
(Young Volunteers Resources Unit)	54,500
Newham Community Renewal Programme	26,700
Newham Homeless Young People's Project	16,750
Northern Association for Community Care	35,000
Onward Industries (NACRO)	44,000
Outset	15,550
Pre-retirement Association	5,826
Princedale Trust (Release)	42,000
Returned Volunteer Action	4,750
Romany Guild	2,625
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation	8,500
Runnymede Trust	13,000
Scoutreach Nottingham	7,000
South Wales Anti-Poverty Action Committee	55,320
Student Community Action Resources Project	14,898
Task Force	55,258
Volunteer Centre	265,600
Media Project (Volunteer Centre)	18,750
Wales Playing Fields Association	8,600
West End Co-ordinated Voluntary Services	63,500
TOTAL 1978–79	£2,637,430

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many adult males, adult females, young males and young females were in prison department custody on 30 June; how many in each category were in local prisons, remand centres, training prisons, borstals and detention centres; and how many in each of the past three types of institution were in open conditions;(2) how many (

Information is not yet available for 30 June 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) of those serving custodial sentences on 30 June for (a) burglary, (b) theft, (c) handling stolen goods, (d) fraud and (e) forgery, in how many cases in each category the reported value of the property stolen was under £5, between £5 and £25, between £25 and £100, between £100 and £500, between £500 and £1,000, between £1,000 and £5,000 and over £5,000;(2) of those serving custodial sentences for criminal damage on 30 June, in how many cases the reported value of the damage was under £5, between £5 and £25, between £25 and £100, between £100 and £500, between £500 and £1,000, between £1,000 and £5,000 and over £5,000.

Information is not available on the value of property stolen or the value of criminal damage done by those serving custodial sentences.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the year ended 30 June 1979, specifying in each case the valuation and whether the item was eventually exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the

Description						Valuation	Outcome
						£
George III gold cup: Parker and Wakelin, London 1772.						8,500	Purchased by City Art Gallery, Manchester.
Pair of Charles II silver fire-dogs			…	…	…	—	Retained—licence suspended* for an indefinite period.
Michelangelo Tondo		…	…	…	…	—	Retained—licence suspended for an indefinite period.
Painting: "Study-head of James Duke of York" by Sir Peter Lely.						20,000	Purchased by National Portrait Gallery.
English Gothic stone corbel head			…	…	…	18,000	Purchased by British Museum.
Gold watch and Chatelaine, c 1778				…	…	14,500	Purchased by British Museum.
Elizabethan glass presentation goblet				…	…	100,000	Purchased by Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
Persian Manuscript	…	…	…	…	…	60,500	Exported.
English 14th century pointed stone arch				…	…	15,000	Purchased by the castle Museum, Norwich.
Elizabethan spice box		…	…	…	…	48,400	Exported.
Roman Vase: 2nd century AD			…	…	…	253,808	Purchased by Burrell Collection, Glasgow.
Louis XIII ebony cabinet-on-stand				…	…	18,000	Purchased by the Geffrye Museum, London.
Pair of English double-barrelled turn-over pistols by Harman Barne, c 1650.						30,000	Purchased by the Armouries, Her Majesty's Tower of London.
English eight shot revolving snaphaunce pistol by T. Annely, c 1700.						18,000	Purchased by the Armouries, Her Majesty's Tower of London.
Set of two pairs of English pistols by John Manton in a case with accessories, c 1804.						30,000	Purchased by the Armouries, Her Majesty's Tower of London
English magazine repeating pistol by H. W. Mortimer in a case with accessories, c 1800.						20,000	Purchased by the Armouries, Her Majesty's Tower of London.
Flintlock sporting gun by Simpson of York					…	—	Retained—licence suspended* for an indefinite period.
Double-barrelled percussion gun by Le Page of Paris, c 1860.						25,000	Purchased by the Armouries, Her Majesty's Tower of London.
Scottish snaphaunce wall-gun, the older barrel dated 1599, the remainder 1640.						140,000	purchased by the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland.
Pair of gilt-stock presentation Scottish pistols by Murdoch, given to the Duke of Clarence.						50,000	Purchased by Inverness Museum.
Sevres dessert service		…	…	…	…	450,000	Purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Pair of William III silver gilt ewers by Pierre Harache						—	Licence withheld for four months i.e. to 21 October 1979.
A silver plaque by Paul van Vianen				…	…	—	Licence withheld for six months, i.e. to 21 December 1979.
* The owner announced his intention of retaining the item; therefore the licence was suspended for an indefinite period.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will specify the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half year ended 30 June 1979, on the recommendation of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historic or artistic interest which have

The following table sets out the allocation of works of art to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half year ended 30

WORKS OF ART ALLOCATED IN THE HALF YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 1979
Work of art				Allocation announced		Museum or Gallery to which allocated		Executors' wishes
A painting by Turner, "A View of the Thames from Richmond Hill".				22 February	…	Manchester City Art Gallery.		None.
A painting by Degas, "Two Dancers in a Field".				1 March	…	Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.		Fitzwilliam Museum.
A Brazilian wood carving			…	22 March	…	Royal Scottish Museum.		British Museum.
A collection of Goya etchings and lithographs.				28 March	…	British Museum	…	Offer conditional on allocation to British Museum.
A drawing by Vittore Carpaccio, "Two Groups of Standing Ecclesiastics".				28 March	…	Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge.		Offer conditional on allocation to Fitzwilliam Museum.
The Valhalla collection of ships figureheads and other maritime artefacts.				19 April	…	National Maritime Museum.		None.
A painting by Sir Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel, "The Death of Hippolytus".				30 April	…	Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.		Fitzwilliam Museum
A collection of paintings by Charles Towne.				24 May	…	Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.		Walker Art Gallery.
A Haida oil bowl	…	…	…	21 June	…	Hunterian Museum, Glasgow University.		British Museum.
A collection of Goya etchings and lithographs.				28 June	…	British Museum	…	British Museum.

ITEMS ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF TAX BUT NOT YET ALLOCATED
Work of art				Date of acceptance in lieu of Estate Duty or Capital Transfer Tax
A painting by Aert Van Der Neer of a winter landscape at sunset		…	…	27 November 1978
A painting by Luca Giordano, "The Visit of the Virgin Mary to her Cousin Elizabeth".				30 November 1978
An oil sketch by Sir Peter Paul Rubens, "Jacob and Esau"		…	…	12 Jun 1979
A panel by Giovanni Bellini, "The Madonna and Child"	…	…	…	12 Jun 1979
A drawing by Francesco Di Giorgio Martini, "Adam and Eve"		…	…	12 Jun 1979

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will state the current conditions for booking House of Commons dining rooms; and whether the names of organisations obtaining the use of the rooms are to be published.

I have been asked to reply.I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the rules relating to the booking of dining rooms.It has always been the policy of the Catering Sub-Committee not to release

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what facilities are available in the House for disabled persons to meet hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee Rooms on the Main Committee Corridor are available for disabled persons to meet hon. Members. I regret that it has not so far proved possible to provide facilities to enable the Interview Rooms in Westminster Hall Annexe to be used by disabled persons in wheelchairs. The authorities of the House are still trying to find a suitable site for a small interview room for disabled persons, but this has proved more difficult than was originally envisaged.I shall, of course, keep my hon. Friend informed if any progress is made.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hon. Members refused to accept the last salary increase; and how many hon. Members are still disclaiming the additional salary.

Two hon. Members disclaimed the last salary increase. Since the general election all hon. Members are receiving a Parliamentary salary in accordance with the resolution of the House of 28 July 1978 and no requests have been received for disclaiming any part of the salary.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it a condition of any new salary scales for hon. Members that they follow the duties of an hon. Member full-time without salaried remuneration from any other occupation or profession.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place before the House a resolution requiring financial interests to be declared when any hon. Member is asking a question at Question Time.

No. I think the need for such declarations is best left to the discretion of hon. Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a register of lobbying interests in the House, including the press lobby.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in view of the fact that 99 per cent. of Members of the House of Lords have incomes of various sorts, that some have several sources from Government funds, that many have gross incomes of as much as £10,000 to £50,000 per annum and that the present tax-free attendance allowances represent large sums per day on a taxed basis, whether he will bear this in mind when dealing with this subject so far as the Boyle committee recommendations are concerned.

The Members of another place do not receive an attendance allowance. They may reclaim only a reimbursement, within defined limits, of certain of the expenses they incur in attending sittings of their House. The recommendations made in the twelfth report from the Review Body on Top Salaries make no change to this general arrangement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from farmer about the shortage of diesel fuel interfering with the current hay harvest.

I have received a number of representations from the farming community, including the National Farmers' Union, about the need for adequate supplies of oil for farming operations. Both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy are fully aware of the importance of enough oil being available for hay and silage making, and our officials will continue to do everything they can to help in cases of difficulty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult the oil companies to ensure that all vessels proceeding to sea will have sufficient fuel to complete the voyage.

I have made sure that the importance of adequate supplies of fuel oil to the food producing industries, including the fishing industry, is well understood. The Government have asked the oil industry to achieve a more even and effective distribution and to meet particular difficulties as a matter of urgency when customers face real hardship. Specific problems which users cannot solve direct with their suppliers should be referred to my regional offices, or, in Scotland, to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, which will do all that it can to help.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the serious effects of fuel price increases and shortages on the fishing industry.

My Department is already playing its full part in procedures to overcome particular problems of shortage of supply and I am aware of the problems caused by higher prices. Our first priority must, however, be to secure economies in oil consumption, and action to shield industry from the real price of oil would be inconsistent with this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received on sheep worrying by dogs; whether this is a growing problem; and if he will make a statement.

One representation has reached me from the Greater Manchester area. Though the national level of damage has not shown a significant long-term trend, about 17 per cent. fewer sheep were killed, and about 37 per cent. fewer injured, in 1978 compared with the preceding year. The maximum fine for allowing a dog to worry livestock was increased to £200 in 1977, and I note with interest that last year the average penalty imposed increased by more than half. I have no further measures in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the calculation upon which the EEC Commission stated that the recent price adjustment under the common agricultural policy would add £1,000 million to its cost; and if he will make a statement; and what was the United Kingdom's net contribution to the common agricultural policy in the past year; what estimate he has made of the net contribution for the current year: and if he will estimate the likely net contribution in the following year.

The latest revised figures given by the Commission as to the cost of the CAP prices settlement are as follows:

	£ million
The 1½ per cent. price increases plus the changes in the German and Benelux Green rate	63
The 1½ per cent. green franc devaluation	51
Increase in milk powder subsidy	44
Increase butter subsidy	182
Other changes in the milk sector, such as school milk	8
Other increases mainly on aids on processed fruit and vegetables	24
	372
The 5 per cent. green pound devaluation—minus	74
	298
Britain will have to meet 16½ per cent. of this total, which is its marginal contribution to the CAP, which will amount to	49

The benefits to the United Kingdom in financial terms will be:

	£ million
The butter subsidy	65
School milk subsidy	4
Extra receipts due to Green Pound devaluation	14
	83
It will be seen, therefore, that Britain will have a net benefit of	34

There has been much talk that the Ministers agreement added £1,000 million to the cost of the CAP. The reason for this was not any increase in expenditure but primarily due to the fact that the Ministers refused to increase revenue by about £560 million by accepting the Commission's proposals for a high and discriminatory co-responsibility levy. Had this proposal been accepted although it would have added about £560 million of revenue to the budget, Britain would have paid a share of that revenue out of all proportion to her size or to the size of her dairy industry. The acceptance of such a proposal would have substantially increased Britain's contribution to the overall cost of the budget.The United Kingdom does not contribute to the common agricultural policy as such but contributes to the Community budget as a whole.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current position on salary regulations for the professional and technology grades in the Civil Service; how far their grades have fallen behind comparable occupations in the public sector; and what proposals he has to settle the present industrial action.

I met a delegation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on Thursday 28 June and urged them to stop industrial action and to put their case before the independent Civil Service arbitration tribunal as speedily as possible. The offer already made, of between 15½ per cent. and 22½ per cent. depending on grade, would put these staff in the same relationship with outside comparable occupations as the rest of the Civil Service who have already accepted a settlement on this basis. The Government's view is that all civil servants should be treated exactly alike. If the IPCS does not accept our offer it should seek the opinion of the Civil Service arbitration tribunal on this matter. It is in the interests of its members, and the country, that it does so quickly, and I have consistently urged this course upon the institution.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with the trade union representatives involved in the dispute over the printing of parliamentary papers, setting out in particular the specific matters in dispute and how it is intended they should be resolved.

I met a delegation from the Institution of Professional Civil Servants on Thursday 28 June and urged them to stop their totally unjustified industrial action and to put their case before the independent Civil Service arbitration tribunal. The staff concerned, members of the professional and technology group, have been offered increases of between 15½ per cent. and 22½ per cent. depending on grade. These amounts are calculated on exactly the same basis as those already agreed for all other grades in the Civil Service and are based on evidence from the pay research unit agreed with IPCS. The IPCS, however, seeks a settlement based on a higher relationship with outside rates. The Government take the view that all civil servants should be treated equally and fairly. If the IPCS cannot accept the offer it should quickly take its case to the CSAT, whose recommendations the Government will accept.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to announce a decision on the recommendations of the Wright Commission on the pay of non-Home Office police; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what would be the estimated loss of job opportunities in Sheffield if the plan to locate the headquarters of the Manpower Services Commission in the city is cancelled;(2) what would be the estimated unrequited loss to public funds if the move of the Manpower Services Commission headquarters to Sheffield is not carried through;(3) what total number of staff the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield is designed to accommodate;(4) what proportion of the new building for the Manpower Services Commission in Sheffield has been completed to date; and what expenditure has been irrevocably incurred;(5) what is the estimated completion date for the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield;(6) what break clause or compensation clause is included in the contract for the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield, in the event that the project is discontinued;

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the review of the policy of dispersal of civil servants will affect the location of the headquarters staff of the Manpower Services Commission in Sheffield.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Osborn).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the new headquarters for the Manpower Services Commission at Sheffield will be operative; and if redundancies in the service are likely.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to lay regulations on the notification of accident and dangerous occurences; when he expects such regulations to come into operation; and if he will make a statement.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the employed population and the annual wakes weeks holidays for each of the towns within the metropolitan districts of the Greater Manchester county.

The following table shows the total numbers of employees in employment at June 1976 in the various employment office areas which most closely correspond to the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.A list of dates of wakes weeks holidays is compiled by the Manchester chamber of commerce. As it is rather extensive I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and to the Library.

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT: JUNE 1976
METROPOLITAN COUNTY OF GREATER MANCHESTER
Employment Office and total of all industries and services
	Thousands
Altrincham	39·1
Ashton-under-Lyne	32·1
Atherton	10·7
Bolton	81·1
Bury	30·6
Denton	9·7
Eccles	18·2
Failsworth	19·9
Farnworth	13·4
Golborne	4·7
Heywood	9·7
Hindley	7·6
Horwich	7·0
Hyde	27·8
Irlam	4·2
Leigh	25·3
Levenshulme	11·9
Littleborough	3·7
Manchester	218·7
Marple	1·8
Middleton	20·5
Mossley	2·8
Newton Heath	16·8
Oldham and Chadderton	58·9
Openshaw	30·5
Prestwich	5·1
Radcliffe	16·3
Ramsbottom	4·0
Rochdale	45·0
Royton	8·6
Salford	55·3
Shaw	6·4
Stalybridge	9·4
Stockport	86·5
Stretford	71·5
Swinton	18·4
Westhoughton	3·4
Wigan	51·7
Withington (Didsbury)	18·9
Worsley	13·8
Wythenshawe	25·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are in receipt of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in Rossendale.

As as 28 June 1979, 755 people were working short-time under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the four employment office areas which cover the Rossendale constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in each of the past 10 years, how many prosecutions have been undertaken for contraventions of the 3 per cent. disabled persons employment quota under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944; how many convictions were obtained; what average penalties were imposed; and what action he is now taking to secure a much higher degree of compliance with this requirement of the Act.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.]

DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SUBVENTION TO REMPLOY
£ million
			1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80
Revenue	…	…	10·114	15·001	16·523	20·204	22·705	26·557
Interest-free loans for capital items		…	1·141	1·797	2·387	1·876	2·247	4·470
Total		…	11·255	16·798	18·910	22·080	24·952	31·027
Numbers and proportion* of Remploy employees with mental disabilities as at March of:
			Psychoneuroses		Other mental illnesses		Mentally subnormal
			Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1974	…	…	299	3·7	388	4·8	727	9·0
1975	…	…	332	4·0	399	4·8	797	9·6
1976	…	…	365	4·3	433	5·1	908	10·7
1977	…	…	351	4·4	399	5·0	861	10·8
1978	…	…	363	4·6	403	5·1	884	11·2
1979	…	…	Information not yet available
* Proportion of the severely disabled workforce.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much Government expenditure on sheltered employment facilities for, respectively, the mentally ill and the physically and mentally disabled will be reduced in 1979 and 1980 as a result of respectively, the announced £32 million cut in the Manpower Services Commission training programme and other cuts in public expenditure planned by the Government.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28 June 1979], gave the following answer:Government expenditure on sheltered employment facilities will not be affected by cuts in the Manpower Services Commission training programme and other cuts in public expenditure planned by the Government in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the size of the Government subsidy to Remploy in the current financial year and over the past five years, and the number and proportion of Remploy employees with psychiatric disabilities in each of these years.

,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28 June 1978], gave the following answer:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is as follows:In the money for sheltered employment no distinction is made between mental and physical disability.

asked the Prime Minister on what date she first received material to be published as part II of the Boyle report on parliamentary salaries.

I have been asked to reply.No such material has been received by the Prime Minister.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will define her policy with regard to refraining from imposing candle end savings on the arts.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 18 June.I have nothing to add to that or to the Budget Statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what studies are being made by his Department on the diversification of sources of supply of essential raw materials.

Responsibility for the supply of essential raw materials lies primarily with industrial users. There is, however, continuing and frequent contact between the different sectors of industry and the Department of Industry on the supply situation, including the possible need to diversify sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what efforts are being used by his Department to encourage the use of substitutes for sperm whale oil, indicating the various research or development projects that are under way, the names of the laboratories or other facilities that are engaged, and the sums that have been made available from public funds for this purpose.

The development of substitutes for sperm whale oil is ultimately a commercial decision for industry. The efforts of industry to replace the use of sperm oil are reflected in the fall of imports from 14,341 tonnes in 1971 to 4,269 tonnes in 1978.The Department of Industry encourages the use of alternatives to sperm oil and suitable projects to develop further substitutes may qualify for assistance from the Department under the product and process development scheme.Approaches have been made about the possibility of such assistance, but none has yet reached the stage where grants have been offered.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he proposes to hold discussions with Commissioner Davignon about the state of the steel industry and, in particular, the problem affecting the Sheffield community of the importation of special steels at cost prices from other member countries of the European Economic Community.

My right hon. Friend met Commissioner Davignon in London on 21 June and discussed steel problems including those of special steel as well as other subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the representatives of small business organisations he has met; and what further provisions he intends to place before the House to encourage small manufacturing businesses.

Ministers in this Department have already met the following organisations:

• Association of Independent Businesses.
• Association of Self-Employed People.
• CBI Smaller Firms Council.
• Development Commission/CoSIRA.
• Forum of Independent Business.
• National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses.
• Union of Independent Companies.

Further meetings are being arranged with other organisations representing the small firm sector.In addition, there have been various meetings with chambers of commerce, financial institutions, trade associations and individual small firms. On policy towards small businesses, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Baker) on Monday 25 June 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many advance nursery factory units have been (a) approved, and (b) constructed in the Northern region since 1974 (i) under the English Industrial Estates Corporation, (ii) under the local authorities, and (iii) under the new town development corporation.

Since 1974, the English Estates Corporation has been authorised to construct 300 terraced units in 93 blocks, the majority in the past 2½ years. So far, 142 units in 37 blocks have been completed. A further 13,000m² of terraced units has also been approved, for which the size and number of individual units is still to be determined.Local authorities and new town development corporations are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES GRANTED AND REFUSED IN THE WEST MIDLANDS AND IN THE DUDLEY AND SANDWELL TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA
		Year				Number of approvals	Area ('000 square feet)	Estimated additional employment
West midlands	…	1975	…	…	…	277	6,415	5,690
		1976	…	…	…	281	9,958	11,880
		1977	…	…	…	232	9,211	1,020
		1978	…	…	…	261	8,447	10,430
		January-March 1979			…	87	1,970	3,970
		Total		…	…	1,138	36,001	32,990
Dudley and sandwell travel-to-work area.		1975	…	…	…	45	664	720
		1976	…	…	…	48	1,145	890
		1977	…	…	…	31	845	2,070
		1978	…	…	…	26	607	720
		January-March 1979			…	16	274	240
		Total		…	…	166	3,535	4,640

		Year				Number of refusals	Area ('000 square feet)	Estimated additional employment
West Midlands	…	1975	…	…	…	6	316	660
		1976 to date		…	…	—	—	—
						(see Note 5)
Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work area.		1975 to date		…	…	—	—	—
Notes:
1. Industrial development certificates are not required in development areas or special development areas. These include most of Scotland and Wales, the whole of the Northern Region, parts of the South-West, the North-West and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regions.
2. Exemption limits were altered in December 1970, July 1972, September 1974 and May 1976.
3. Buildings which have been converted for industrial use are also included in the table.
4. The figures for the estimated additional employment are the applicants' estimates of the employment expected to arise when projects are complete and fully manned.
5. One IDC was refused in the West Midlands in 1977, but an IDC was subsequently granted in1978 subject to certain conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his policy to use State purchasing to foster industry; and if not if he will consider the introducing of such a policy.

Yes. In their purchasing policies, public bodies should seek to promote efficiency and profitable innovation in manufacturing industry to the fullest extent compatible with obtaining

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the number of industrial development certificates granted and refused in the West Midlands and the Dudley and Sandwell travel-to-work areas, respectively: and what were the corresponding figures for floor space and estimated additional employment.

The information requested is as follows:best value for money and with their international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals he has to save the shipbuilding industry from extinction.

A statement on the shipbuilding industry will be made as soon as possible. At present the Government are engaged in consultations with British Shipbuilders, the trade unions and other parties concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in the light of the current losses being incurred by businesses in Birmingham, the Midlands and elsewhere resulting from postal difficulties, if he will make a statement on the current operation of the postal service.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement about the postal services made to the House by my right hon. Friend earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the fact that Lucas Ltd. is currently closing down its ballscrew production at Hemel Hempstead, on what grounds his Department is proposing to offer aid of up to £1 million to a German-based organisation, on whose behalf Mr. de Bloeme, a former Lucas director, is acting, specifically to manufacture ballscrews at Barnstaple.

Applications for assistance are treated on a confidential basis and it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to disclose details.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement concerning the Governement funding of LC10 project at British Leyland, Cowley.

No formal proposals concerning this project have yet been made and the Government have not yet considered the question of its funding.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, since Lucas Ltd is currently receiving £8 million from his Department to preserve jobs, what action he is taking to prevent the company from closing its Shipley plant and its ballscrew operations at Hemel Hempstead; and whether this contravenes the agreement Lucas made with his Department on 14 February over job preservation.

In June 1978, my Department agreed to grant Lucas Aerospace assistance of £8 million to enable the company to carry out a rationalisation programme. This programme included closure of plants at Shipley, Bradford and Liverpool and opening of new plants at Bradford and Liverpool. No action is being taken to prevent these closures and Lucas Aerospace has undertaken to relocate as many of the work force as possible. Lucas Aerospace made a commercial decision to cease manufacturing industrial ballscrews in 1975, and this decision was not connected with the grant of assistance mentioned above.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange to publish the corporate plan of British Shipbuilders.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 18 May.—[Vol. 967, c. 9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of the housing investment—programme—HIP—bids submitted by each local authority for the financial year 1979 –80, expressed at provisional 1979 –80 outturn prices.

I am arranging for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how, since local authorities have freedom of expenditure within each housing investment programme block, and since acquisition and improvement work are all contained within such block, he will enforce his declared intention of reducing municipalisation expenditure by £85 million in the present financial year.

The previous block borrowing approval, so far as it related to municipalisation, has been withdrawn. Local authorities are for the moment required to submit individual applications for borrowing approval for this purpose. Such approvals will be given only in special circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has instructed local government and central Government to prepare reductions of 2 ½ per cent. and 7 ½ per cent. in the current year's education expenditure forecasts as a basis for the 1980 financial settlement; and if he will make a statement.

As in previous years, the consultative council on local government finance has asked central and local government officials to examine the implications for local government services, including education, of various levels of expenditure. For 1980 –81 levels of expenditure 2½, per cent. and 7½ per cent. below the provision in Cmnd. 7439 are amongst those being examined. No decision has been taken on the bases for the rate support grant settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the forthcoming legislation giving rights to purchase to tenants of local authority owned houses will be extended without qualification to the tenants of housing associations.

We wish to enable all housing associations to sell their dwellings to their tenants. We are still considering how far it would be practical to extend a statutory right to buy to housing association tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the premises and accommodation in the area bounded by Bridge Street, Parliament Street, Victoria Embankment and Derby Gate, which are in the Government estate and available to it and the purposes for which such accommodation is used.

All the premises in this area are in the Government estate except London Transport's Westminster station and the immediately adjoining premises. The usable offices at ground floor and above are allocated by percentage, as follows:

	per cent
Government Departments	34
Parliamentary users	22
Let to other users	27
Vacant (but in need of considerable decoration)	17

In addition there are 19 shops, all except one of which are let; two flats; and one public house.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many operatives and professional, clerical and administrative staff were employed in local authority direct labour building departments in April 1978 on (a) new housing, (b) other new work (c) housing repairs and maintenance and (d) new housing repairs and maintenance.

This information is as follows:

OPERATIVES EMPLOYED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES ON CONSTRUCTION WORK, GREAT BRITAIN, APRIL 1978
New work:
Housing	10,139
Non-housing	10,773
Repairs and maintenance:
Housing	73,592
Non-housing	68,271
All operatives	162,775

Local authorities employed 85,459 administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff on the design, management and control of construction work which may be carried out either by direct labour or by contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the local authorities which have received loan sanction to build dwellings by direct labour since 21 July 1978, naming the scheme in each case, the gross tender price and the number of dwellings involved;(2) whether any local authorities have received loan sanction since 21 July 1978 to build dwellings for sale by direct labour, and, if so, whether he will name the scheme in each case, the gross tender price and the number of dwellings involved.

Information available to the Department from 21 July 1978 to 25 June 1979 follows. None of

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is to be given to the borough of Walsall in 1979–80 under the rate support grant; how much was given in the 1978–79 financial year and what is the difference in real terms.

The total amount of RSG which will be payable to Walsall for 1979–80 will depend on decisions yet to be made affecting the increase order for the year.The latest estimate for grant in respect of 1978–79 taking account of the 1978 increase order for that year is £35,900,394 comprising:

Needs element	£ 24,012,829
Resources element	£ 8,313,731
Domestic element	£ 3,573,834

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the expenditure made under the urban aid grants during each of the last three years.

The amount of urban aid grant paid out in England during each of the last three years was as follows:

1976–77	£24·5 million
1977–78	£26·5 million
1978–79	£63·9 million

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will undertake an inquiry into the problems of old established towns in shire counties along the lines of those inquiries into the problems of inner city areas with particular reference to rural services and infrastructure.

No. But I should be glad to consider any particular problems which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to abolish the Development Commission; and, what would be the effects of such a proposal on industrial development in rural areas in the North of England and in Teesdale, in particular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the future of the Development Commission.

The future role of the Development Commission is currently being reviewed together with that of other public bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the repeal of the Community Land Act will not damage industrial development in the Wear Valley district council area, in the light of the fact that the council will not now have the resources to proceed with its rolling programme of land purchase and preparation for industrial use.

Yes. Our policy is to take the shackles off industrial development. We have already removed some of the blockages to land supply caused by the Community Land Act. Wisely, like most councils, Wear Valley made no significant use of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many councils of county districts have given him notice under section 8 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 of their objections to proposals for the location of caravan sites within their areas;(2) if he will list the local inquiries that have been held or are pending under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968;(3) how many local authorities have given notice of the number and location of proposed caravan sites in their areas under section 9 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

Since January 1976 district councils in England have pursued 23 objections under section 8 of the 1968 Act; only one case involved a local inquiry and that was held under planning procedures. No inquiries have been held under section 9 of the 1968 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he is taking to prevent the ploughing up of heather moorland in Exmoor national park;(2) what action he will take to prevent damage to limestone pavements in national parks and other areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro), gave on Friday 25 May—[Vol. 97, c. 285.] The matters are continuing to receive his close attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue a directive allowing local and new town authorities to sell garage plots and garages.

I assume that my hon. Friend is concerned with garage plots and garages which are not within the curtilage of houses. It would be for the local authority or development corporation to decide in a particular case whether or not to sell such a garage plot or garage and whether they needed to obtain ministerial consent in order to do so. My right hon. Friend would look at any application for such consent sympathetically.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment approximately when he proposes to introduce legislation regarding the sale of council houses.

In the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the number of persons waiting for driving tests in Great Britain, Wales, Gwent and Mid-Glamorgan, respectively; and what was this figure at the same time in 1971 and 1975.

The numbers of applications currently outstanding are:

Great Britain	879,840
Wales	39,879
Gwent	7,876
Mid-Glamorgan	7,731

The figures for Great Britain in 1971 and 1975 were 200,050 and 496,360 respectively. Comparable figures for Wales, Gwent, and Mid-Glamorgan are not available.